Charities want more national parks in Scotland

The Cairngorms National Park takes in parts of the Aberdeenshire, the Highlands and Perthshire

Two charities have called for the establishment of at least seven more national parks in Scotland.

There are two parks currently with one covering Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, and the other the Cairngorms.

The Scottish Campaign for National Parks (SCNP) and the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland (APRS) have suggested new areas.

They would cover The Cheviots, Galloway, Glen Affric, Harris, Mull and parts of Lochaber.

The Lochaber park would take in Ben Nevis, Glencoe and Black Mount.

The designation has also been suggested for Wester Ross and the charities have recommended creating a coastal and marine national park centred around Mull.

'Great success'

Jimmie Macgregor, president of APRS, said national park status would help protect some of the best landscapes in the world.

He said: "We have wild mountains, pristine rivers and lochs, ancient forests, stunning coastline and islands, all rich in wildlife and history.

"Yet out of 3,500 national parks in the world, Scotland has only two. The first two have been a great success - surely it's time for more."

The 10th anniversary of the launch of the Cairngorms National Park - Britain's largest - is being marked this year.

The park includes parts of the Highlands, Aberdeenshire and Perthshire.

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park was launched in 2002.

The two are among 15 national parks covering parts of the UK.

The others are Brecon Beacons, Broads, Exmoor, Lake District, New Forest, Northumberland, North York Moors, Peak District, Pembrokeshire Coast, Snowdonia, South Downs and Yorkshire Dales.